Above: Harry Dean Stanton in "Lucky," directed by John Carroll Lynch
John Carroll Lynch: From Actor to Director
Norm Gunderson has spread his wings.
John Carroll Lynch, best known for playing the husband to Frances McDormand’s police officer Marge in the movie “Fargo,” has stepped behind the camera to direct “Lucky,” a feature film that will be shown on closing night of the Berkshire International Film Festival, June 4, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Mass.
“Lucky” stars the legendary 90-year-old character actor Harry Dean Stanton in a semi-autobiographical role billed as “the spiritual journey of a 90-year-old atheist.” It also costars the director David Lynch (unrelated to John Carroll), Ron Livingston, Ed Begley, Jr., and Tom Skerritt.
“I had been wanting to direct for a while,” Lynch tells me in his gentle baritone. “You usually get your chance around the third season of being cast in a TV series. That didn’t quite happen for me. I haven’t been on a lot of third seasons.”
Unduly self-effacing, Lynch has played over 100 parts on television and in movies, including roles in "The Drew Carey Show," "American Horro Story: Freak Show," "Shutter Island," "Zodiac," and "The Walking Dead." He also has an active theater career.
He is, like the subject of his film, a consummate character actor who loses himself in his roles.
“I love to be able to change my relationship with the audience, to be able to express and hopefully inspire different kinds of thoughts, emotions, and feelings around the characters I play—fear, as well as love—characters that evoke strong emotions. And also to be funny when the part calls for it.”
Lynch sees his role as a director similarly, to tell “a very transparent emotional story.” He was connected to the project by a friend, Drago Sumonja, who co-wrote the screenplay.
“The movie is about a man who definitely is not looking at mortality for the first time in his life, but might be for the last, and in that journey, Harry Dean and the rest of the cast bring such humanity and warmth. It’s a movie that doesn’t shy away from death, but looks at it compassionately with a warm and human heart. I’m very happy about that.”
Of Stanton, he says “He’s a fascinating dude. The movie reflects a lot of his world view, ethos, and his personal experience, like being a World War II veteran. He is a luminous figure on screen.”
Being a first-time director working with a nonagenarian actor with well over 200 credits to his name could be a challenge, however.
“He does not suffer fools, and he’s earned that.” In turn, “I had to earn his trust, until one day he would finally say to me, 'I guess you know your stuff.'"
Albeit in slightly more colorful language.
John Carroll Lynch, best known for playing the husband to Frances McDormand’s police officer Marge in the movie “Fargo,” has stepped behind the camera to direct “Lucky,” a feature film that will be shown on closing night of the Berkshire International Film Festival, June 4, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Mass.
“Lucky” stars the legendary 90-year-old character actor Harry Dean Stanton in a semi-autobiographical role billed as “the spiritual journey of a 90-year-old atheist.” It also costars the director David Lynch (unrelated to John Carroll), Ron Livingston, Ed Begley, Jr., and Tom Skerritt.
“I had been wanting to direct for a while,” Lynch tells me in his gentle baritone. “You usually get your chance around the third season of being cast in a TV series. That didn’t quite happen for me. I haven’t been on a lot of third seasons.”
Unduly self-effacing, Lynch has played over 100 parts on television and in movies, including roles in "The Drew Carey Show," "American Horro Story: Freak Show," "Shutter Island," "Zodiac," and "The Walking Dead." He also has an active theater career.
He is, like the subject of his film, a consummate character actor who loses himself in his roles.
“I love to be able to change my relationship with the audience, to be able to express and hopefully inspire different kinds of thoughts, emotions, and feelings around the characters I play—fear, as well as love—characters that evoke strong emotions. And also to be funny when the part calls for it.”
Lynch sees his role as a director similarly, to tell “a very transparent emotional story.” He was connected to the project by a friend, Drago Sumonja, who co-wrote the screenplay.
“The movie is about a man who definitely is not looking at mortality for the first time in his life, but might be for the last, and in that journey, Harry Dean and the rest of the cast bring such humanity and warmth. It’s a movie that doesn’t shy away from death, but looks at it compassionately with a warm and human heart. I’m very happy about that.”
Of Stanton, he says “He’s a fascinating dude. The movie reflects a lot of his world view, ethos, and his personal experience, like being a World War II veteran. He is a luminous figure on screen.”
Being a first-time director working with a nonagenarian actor with well over 200 credits to his name could be a challenge, however.
“He does not suffer fools, and he’s earned that.” In turn, “I had to earn his trust, until one day he would finally say to me, 'I guess you know your stuff.'"
Albeit in slightly more colorful language.